Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand and Foreign Affairs Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe this week, setting out the priorities of the Principality’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers to representatives of the organisation’s 46 member states.

The appearances came during the Parliamentary Assembly’s summer session, running from 22nd to 26th June in Strasbourg, and marked one of the first major set-piece moments of Monaco’s presidency, which began on 15th May and runs until 10th November. It is the first time the Principality has held the role since joining the Council of Europe in 2004.

Two addresses, two roles

Mirmand addressed the Assembly on 22nd June in a national capacity, taking questions from members and reaffirming Monaco’s commitment to the Council of Europe’s founding values, while highlighting what officials describe as the Monegasque model’s focus on proximity, solidarity and practical solutions.

Berro-Amadeï followed the next day, this time speaking as president of the Committee of Ministers, setting out the organisation’s recent achievements alongside the priorities Monaco has chosen for its six-month term. She also stressed the importance of dialogue, cooperation and multilateralism in addressing Europe’s current challenges. The presidency’s five stated priorities cover gender equality and violence against women, child protection and online radicalisation, sport as a tool for social inclusion, and collective security against organised crime.

Bilateral talks on the sidelines

Alongside the Assembly sessions, Mirmand and Berro-Amadeï held bilateral meetings with Secretary General Alain Berset, Assembly President Petra Bayr and the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, taking stock of the presidency’s progress so far and discussing the key dates ahead over the coming months.

Monaco’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly, made up of National Council members Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, Christophe Brico, Christine Pasquier-Ciulla and Régis Bergonzi, also took an active role in the session’s proceedings.

Separately, as part of the presidency’s cultural programme, Berro-Amadeï opened a photography exhibition on Monaco’s architectural heritage, which will be on display at the Council of Europe for two weeks.

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Photo of Foreign Affairs Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, credit: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department